Help!!! My Truvativ Stylo BB is all F'ed up

[Fired Yo Momma]

I have a issues right now first my Xbox busted, then I shelled out 640 bones to work on my truck. Now my Bottom bracket on my Specialized Stump Jumper is all F'ed up. I started noticing noise coming from the Bottom Bracket on the SCST ride last Sunday. After talking with some STR peeps they were saying that the noise issue can be fixed but I need to take the drive train assemble and regrease the BB area. So last night as I was taking my cranks apart I noticed the bottom bracket tube that holds the left and right bearing cups is cracked. The tube holds a rubber seal on both the left and right side. The area that is cracked is on the groove that holds the seal. The bottom bracket tube is plastic . Who uses plastic? Only the French . Has anybody seen or had this issue?

[northshore]

To clarify, is the threaded BB area on the frame itself cracked or on the BB cartridge?

[Fired Yo Momma]

Thanks, the cartridge

[DISCO]

Sounds like over tightening, but the tube is there for bearing pre-load. As long as the length is appropriate it should squeak by. Make sure you use spacers to shim for the appropriate BB width. If I had to guess the sound is probably just a loose cup or crank arm not torqued to spec. Those O-rings only seal the bearings from within so unless the BB shell is perforated they don't do much. The easy fix is to go Shimano, but see if it persists after is back up together.

[Zippy]

I have the same cranks and BB. Every 6 months, or so, it gets dirty and starts making a "clack" sound. All I do is take it apart, clean all the dirt out of it, re-lube everything and put it back together. I wrap the cup threads with teflon tape to help alleviate any thread squeaks, but I haven't had the plastic tube-thingy crack, though. It might work, but still be noisy; I'd consider replacing it. Good luck.

[92se-r]

It doesn't matter if the plastic is cracked. All that does is hold the oring in place. Just super glue it if it bothers you too much. My roommate has the same crank/bb and his is cracked as well.

[Sprockethead]

Take it back to the shop where you bought it. I don't think your bike is over a year old so it should still be under warranty or atleast you might have some sort of free maintenance for a year. Some shops do that.

[DBD]

External cups?
If so then ...

Serious weight weenies will leave the tube off. It is just to prevent dirt/water from getting in the bearing. You should be able to ride with out it until you get another.

[Fired Yo Momma]

Originally Posted by Sprockethead

Take it back to the shop where you bought it. I don't think your bike is over a year old so it should still be under warranty or atleast you might have some sort of free maintenance for a year. Some shops do that.

Yea thats right you were their when I bought the bike. I don't have a torque wrench and from reading the reviews on MTBR people were saying how important it is to have torqued to the correct setting so I may just end up taking it back tonight.

Hey guys thanks for all your input. Its just crazy seeing something broken leaving your bike.

[Sprockethead]

I just replaced my non drive side BB cup on my Shimano XT's. They didn't even last 1 year, I think the snowy weekend at Mammoth did them in. Since that ride, my cranks have been hard to turn and when I replaced the bearings, they were sized.